Photo by Derrick Mahone
Jonesboro teammates Patrick Petty (left) and Cameron Sutton will have a busy weekend as they will play in an all-star 7-on-7 tournament in Florida today through Saturday. Once they return home, the teammates will help will be at the Gwinnett Arena as Jonesboro takes on Whitewater in a tournament championship game.

Last season, Farrean Toney was used mostly in Drew’s nickel package on defense.

This season, the rising senior will have to make the adjustment to a starting role as several players from the Titans’ first playoff team has graduated.

It seems as if Toney is making a fast and smooth transition into the starting role. As evidence of his progression into the starting role, the defensive back was one of four Southern Crescent players named to a Georgia all-star team.

Toney and Jonesboro seniors Patrick Petty and Cameron Sutton will be in Brandenton, Fla., today through Sunday as part of an all-star team that will play representatives from other states. Toney’s teammate Ben Kittler was also selected but elected not to go.

The players were selected to the IMG Madden 7-on-7 Passing League Championship after a good showing earlier this month with their respective teams at the Cam Newton Passing Tournament at Westlake High in southwest Atlanta.

“I’m really excited about this tournament because I’m from Florida,” Toney said. “It is going to be great playing in my home state.”

With Toney moving into a full-time starting role this season for the Titans, he says that he is taking a different approach to the season.

“I’m preparing myself different because of my role on the team,” he said. “I’m excited about the opportunity.”

This will be a busy weekend for Petty and Sutton. When the two return home on Sunday, they will join teammates at the Gwinnett Arena for a rematch against Whitewater in the finals of the Big South National Qualifier 7-on-7U Passing League Tournament.

The rematch will be part of halftime of the Georgia Force game against the Orlando Predators. The Force, an Arena Football League team, was one of the tournament’s sponsors.

Regardless of Sunday’s outcome, Jonesboro will play in the national championship tournament on July 19-22 in Washington, D.C. Mount Zion will also make the trek to the nation’s capital after finishing third in the same qualifying tournament.

“Our finish in that tournament is just an example of the hard work we’ve been putting in all summer,” Jonesboro coach Tim Floyd said.